POTC: Dead Man's Chest
Okay... I know you're all just dying to find out what I thought of Disney's latest record-breaking-summer-block-busting-amusement-park-on-film release... so stand fast mates... here be me review! I've tried to avoid spoilers, but beware... these waters be uncharted!
First, let me just say that my personal predilections lead me to enjoy things that are as far removed from reality as I wish I personally could be... and that as a theatrically minded person, I am entirely willing to suspend my disbelief for a couple of hours and let myself be taken into another world where the laws of logic and physics don't mean shyte. Therefore, the more audacious and risk taking a fantasy flick is (and this series is pretty much fantasy with a modicum of historical base) the more I'm disposed to enjoy it.
I did enjoy this movie, quite thoroughly. I thought that the cinematography was very well executed by and large... making it a very pretty film to look at. My only complaint as far as camera angles and cuts (as they usually tend to be) were during fight sequences when I felt the shots were a little too tight. This may be due to my familiarity with live steel shows, where you can take in the technique and action in a sweeping view. However, in POTC II, some of the action was difficult to see because the camera would cramp in so tightly and the MTV style of two second cuts always makes me wonder if the choreography is a little lacking. However, this minor complaint aside, it's a beautifully shot film. Definitely up to Disney live-action standard, and perhaps a little above.
The plot was far more complex in this edition than in the last, most likely because this film is in effect the first half of a longer story. Yes, it's meant to be a trilogy (with rumors of Depp's willingness to do a 4th film) but in the prudent style of Hollywood, the first film was done to stand on it's own feet, whereas this one ends on a blatant cliff-hangar, lacking only the "tune in next week" voice-over at the end. Therefore, there are a lot of goings on and happenings, new characters and plot developments that practically trip over each other as the movie bounds along... only stopping when it's time for another wild action sequence.
Of which there are plenty, both at sea and on land. In a movie populated by giant sea monsters, cursed half-human half-fish pirates, undead monkeys, magic compasses, heavily accented witch women and a disembodied beating heart, it's not unexpected that the action sequences would likewise eschew any resemblance to what might actually be possible. I've seen some implausible action sequences before, but this movie pulls off some stunts that are so impossible it almost looks fake... but quite honestly, the over-the-top antics are part of what makes this movie a lot of fun to watch. It's as if the producers and directors are telling you right up front: "This isn't real... it's a movie!" For me it worked, although some others have complained somewhat about the absurdity of certain elements. But I figure... eh, whatever. If I buy the giant squid and a man who's head is an octopus, I can deal with incredulous fight scenes. Besides, a good deal of humor and tongue-in-cheek moments kept me completely engaged.
But this does give rise to a slight complaint... the over whelming reliance on CGI to make this movie work. At least, given the Earthly setting of the film, the locations are real (even parts of the ghostly Flying Dutchman were constructed out of real wood and metal) so unlike the latest Star Wars installments, there is a "real" feeling to most of the movie. All the same, some of the CGI is a bit overwhelming and moves so fast it's sometimes hard to focus on anything other than "I wonder how long it took to render that!" The crew of the Dutchman are amazing to look at, but there are so many little moving details on some of them (a morray eel residing in the gut of one and pulsing barnacles on others) that they almost become distracting. However, that is the price of spectacle, and Dead Man's Chest is absolutely full of breath-taking moments of that particular quality.
Overall, the performances are up to standard. Johnny Depp once again provides us with his Keith Richards influenced Captain Jack Sparrow, who only seems to be able to retain his balance when actually on a ship, but his swaying, staggering, seemingly constantly inebriated character is no less fun to watch than the first time around. Keira Knightley's Elizabeth Swan is given a little more to do in the action sequences, far from a damsel in distress, she is a woman who takes action to get what she wants, even if she's not quite sure exactly what that might be. Orlando Bloom as Will Turner is still the weakest link in the cast, (of this or any film he's in) but attractive and dashing enough to merit the movie's homage to Douglas Fairbank's famous "sliding down the sail with a dagger" stunt, and I suppose gives the ladies something to drool over. Bit players Lee Arenberg and Mackenzie Crook reprise their roles with great effect (I especially enjoyed the argument over the correct pronunciation of "kraken," and wondered how many of those "let's get every detail correct" historical accuracy types understood the jab) and Kevin McNally returns as Gibbs, with wonderful comic timing and priceless physicality.
But, the man who steals the show, in my opinion, is Bill Nighy as Davey Jones. Despite the intricate costume, tentacled beard and CGI enhanced appearance, Nighy puts on a display of technical acting that I believe is near unequaled in recent memory. Look at it this way... the only tools the man had to work with were his eyes and his voice, and he did an absolutely stunning job with both. Helped in part by some key close-ups to feature his delayed sideways glances, he gives an outstanding example of what is referred to as "mask acting" that really exhibits what a talented performer can accomplish with the barest of essentials. His vocal cadences and rhythms were spot on, and of all the cast Nighy is the only one who actually sounds like a pirate.
Jack Davenport, returning as the conniving James Norrington is perhaps the only member of the cast who gets the opportunity to show some character development, cropping up in Tortuga bitter and resentful (and drunk) having lost his commission after failing to capture Jack. A very nice turn from his character in the first film.
A far less convincing performance is given by Naomie Harris as the witch woman Tia Dalma, whose accent was so thick you almost wanted sub titles... which I thought was quite strange considering how important her dialog is, not just to this installment, but to the one that is yet to follow. However, in a creepy, morbid way, Harris is sensual and captivating, even if it does appear she's been drinking Tidy-Bowl.
Despite the little pokes I've been taking at various elements, this movie is a fun romp end to end. It's different enough from the first movie that you don't feel like you're watching a rehash of what worked the first time around, but stays faithful to it's best elements... the performances of Depp and Knightley, strong supporting cast members, a host of clever one-liners and total disregard for reality. There are enough turns and twists in the plot to keep it unpredictable, and if you can foresee what happens at the very end of the last reel, you're more attuned to the universe than I am. (Of course, if you've looked at a cast list, you've probably seen Geoffry Rush listed... am I saying too much?)
Speaking of the last reel... do stay and watch the credits. As in the first movie, there is an Easter egg awaiting those faithful who don't dash for their cars as the credits roll.
Things to consider for families... this movie is a little more frightening than the first. The Crew of the Flying Dutchman caused some of the wee ones close to me to burrow into their seats, and of course there is a hefty amount of violence... but mostly bloodless and relatively non-graphic (unlike another recent "trilogy" that had some sort of beheading fetish) and a disembodied, yet pulsating heart that caused one little tot to scream out loud. (poor kid) I can't think of any moments of harsh language (it IS Disney after all) and it's a long movie... 160+ minutes. I'd say if your kids are under the age of 9 or 10, you might go ahead and get a babysitter for the evening. If you do decide to bring them, just remind them that kicking the seat in front of them is rude and irritating and may cause the pirate in that seat to turn and snarl.
I give this flick four out of five "arrrrghs" Not quite as good as the first, but that's expected in the second act of a three act story.
First, let me just say that my personal predilections lead me to enjoy things that are as far removed from reality as I wish I personally could be... and that as a theatrically minded person, I am entirely willing to suspend my disbelief for a couple of hours and let myself be taken into another world where the laws of logic and physics don't mean shyte. Therefore, the more audacious and risk taking a fantasy flick is (and this series is pretty much fantasy with a modicum of historical base) the more I'm disposed to enjoy it.
I did enjoy this movie, quite thoroughly. I thought that the cinematography was very well executed by and large... making it a very pretty film to look at. My only complaint as far as camera angles and cuts (as they usually tend to be) were during fight sequences when I felt the shots were a little too tight. This may be due to my familiarity with live steel shows, where you can take in the technique and action in a sweeping view. However, in POTC II, some of the action was difficult to see because the camera would cramp in so tightly and the MTV style of two second cuts always makes me wonder if the choreography is a little lacking. However, this minor complaint aside, it's a beautifully shot film. Definitely up to Disney live-action standard, and perhaps a little above.
The plot was far more complex in this edition than in the last, most likely because this film is in effect the first half of a longer story. Yes, it's meant to be a trilogy (with rumors of Depp's willingness to do a 4th film) but in the prudent style of Hollywood, the first film was done to stand on it's own feet, whereas this one ends on a blatant cliff-hangar, lacking only the "tune in next week" voice-over at the end. Therefore, there are a lot of goings on and happenings, new characters and plot developments that practically trip over each other as the movie bounds along... only stopping when it's time for another wild action sequence.
Of which there are plenty, both at sea and on land. In a movie populated by giant sea monsters, cursed half-human half-fish pirates, undead monkeys, magic compasses, heavily accented witch women and a disembodied beating heart, it's not unexpected that the action sequences would likewise eschew any resemblance to what might actually be possible. I've seen some implausible action sequences before, but this movie pulls off some stunts that are so impossible it almost looks fake... but quite honestly, the over-the-top antics are part of what makes this movie a lot of fun to watch. It's as if the producers and directors are telling you right up front: "This isn't real... it's a movie!" For me it worked, although some others have complained somewhat about the absurdity of certain elements. But I figure... eh, whatever. If I buy the giant squid and a man who's head is an octopus, I can deal with incredulous fight scenes. Besides, a good deal of humor and tongue-in-cheek moments kept me completely engaged.
But this does give rise to a slight complaint... the over whelming reliance on CGI to make this movie work. At least, given the Earthly setting of the film, the locations are real (even parts of the ghostly Flying Dutchman were constructed out of real wood and metal) so unlike the latest Star Wars installments, there is a "real" feeling to most of the movie. All the same, some of the CGI is a bit overwhelming and moves so fast it's sometimes hard to focus on anything other than "I wonder how long it took to render that!" The crew of the Dutchman are amazing to look at, but there are so many little moving details on some of them (a morray eel residing in the gut of one and pulsing barnacles on others) that they almost become distracting. However, that is the price of spectacle, and Dead Man's Chest is absolutely full of breath-taking moments of that particular quality.
Overall, the performances are up to standard. Johnny Depp once again provides us with his Keith Richards influenced Captain Jack Sparrow, who only seems to be able to retain his balance when actually on a ship, but his swaying, staggering, seemingly constantly inebriated character is no less fun to watch than the first time around. Keira Knightley's Elizabeth Swan is given a little more to do in the action sequences, far from a damsel in distress, she is a woman who takes action to get what she wants, even if she's not quite sure exactly what that might be. Orlando Bloom as Will Turner is still the weakest link in the cast, (of this or any film he's in) but attractive and dashing enough to merit the movie's homage to Douglas Fairbank's famous "sliding down the sail with a dagger" stunt, and I suppose gives the ladies something to drool over. Bit players Lee Arenberg and Mackenzie Crook reprise their roles with great effect (I especially enjoyed the argument over the correct pronunciation of "kraken," and wondered how many of those "let's get every detail correct" historical accuracy types understood the jab) and Kevin McNally returns as Gibbs, with wonderful comic timing and priceless physicality.
But, the man who steals the show, in my opinion, is Bill Nighy as Davey Jones. Despite the intricate costume, tentacled beard and CGI enhanced appearance, Nighy puts on a display of technical acting that I believe is near unequaled in recent memory. Look at it this way... the only tools the man had to work with were his eyes and his voice, and he did an absolutely stunning job with both. Helped in part by some key close-ups to feature his delayed sideways glances, he gives an outstanding example of what is referred to as "mask acting" that really exhibits what a talented performer can accomplish with the barest of essentials. His vocal cadences and rhythms were spot on, and of all the cast Nighy is the only one who actually sounds like a pirate.
Jack Davenport, returning as the conniving James Norrington is perhaps the only member of the cast who gets the opportunity to show some character development, cropping up in Tortuga bitter and resentful (and drunk) having lost his commission after failing to capture Jack. A very nice turn from his character in the first film.
A far less convincing performance is given by Naomie Harris as the witch woman Tia Dalma, whose accent was so thick you almost wanted sub titles... which I thought was quite strange considering how important her dialog is, not just to this installment, but to the one that is yet to follow. However, in a creepy, morbid way, Harris is sensual and captivating, even if it does appear she's been drinking Tidy-Bowl.
Despite the little pokes I've been taking at various elements, this movie is a fun romp end to end. It's different enough from the first movie that you don't feel like you're watching a rehash of what worked the first time around, but stays faithful to it's best elements... the performances of Depp and Knightley, strong supporting cast members, a host of clever one-liners and total disregard for reality. There are enough turns and twists in the plot to keep it unpredictable, and if you can foresee what happens at the very end of the last reel, you're more attuned to the universe than I am. (Of course, if you've looked at a cast list, you've probably seen Geoffry Rush listed... am I saying too much?)
Speaking of the last reel... do stay and watch the credits. As in the first movie, there is an Easter egg awaiting those faithful who don't dash for their cars as the credits roll.
Things to consider for families... this movie is a little more frightening than the first. The Crew of the Flying Dutchman caused some of the wee ones close to me to burrow into their seats, and of course there is a hefty amount of violence... but mostly bloodless and relatively non-graphic (unlike another recent "trilogy" that had some sort of beheading fetish) and a disembodied, yet pulsating heart that caused one little tot to scream out loud. (poor kid) I can't think of any moments of harsh language (it IS Disney after all) and it's a long movie... 160+ minutes. I'd say if your kids are under the age of 9 or 10, you might go ahead and get a babysitter for the evening. If you do decide to bring them, just remind them that kicking the seat in front of them is rude and irritating and may cause the pirate in that seat to turn and snarl.
I give this flick four out of five "arrrrghs" Not quite as good as the first, but that's expected in the second act of a three act story.
posted by ESV at 10:27 AM
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